Process and apparatus for producing crackled glassware



Oct. 19 1926. 1,603,552

D. L. MIDDENDORF PROCESS AND APE'ARATUS FOR PRODUCING YCRACKLEDGLASSWARE Filed Feb. 4, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR.

g? ATTORN .Oct. 19 1926 D. L. MIDDENDORF PROCESS :AND APPARATUS FORPRODUCING CRACKLED GLASSWARE 2 sheets heet 2 Filed 4. 1926 I I I pay/cfA. Mada 2,

INVENTOR- Fatented Oct. 19, 1926.

UNITED STATES I 1,603,552 PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID L. minnnmionr, or conurmus, OHIO, nssrenon To run rnnnnu. GLASScouraw, or commune, 0310, A conrona'rron or onto.

PROCESS AND AYPABATUS FOR PRODUCING CRACKLED GLASSWARE.

Application filed February 4, was. Serial No. 85,872.-

My invention relates broadly to a process and apparatus for producingcrackled glass ware and more particularly to a method of covering eitheror both surfaces of a blank witlr a network of fine lines and crackswhich are subsequently enlarged when the blank is shaped to final form.

Heretofore, in the manufacture of imitation crackled glassware, it hasbeen the practice to form the articles in a mold having a relief designcut in its interior surface to produce an intaglio design on theexteriorsurface of the article.

The resulting product is not genuine crackled glassware but only animitation, and themethod necessitates the use of sectional molds whichproduce objectionable fins on the artlcle. Moreover, all articlesproduced have exactly the same surface design. Likewise, it is notpossible to produce a design on the interior surface of the articlesproduced, by this method.

The primary object of m invention is the provision of a method anapparatus for manufacturing crackled or crazed lassware, i. e.,glassware the surface of WlllCh is covered with a network of fine cracksand grooves.'

Other objects of 'my invention will appear from the followingdescription and its various features are illustrated in the accompanyindrawings wherein similar reference numerafls designate correspondingparts in the several figures and wherein- Figure 1 is a fragmentaryelevational view of a glass forming machine showing the press and blowmolds and the location of my novel mold and blank spraying device withreference thereto;

crack lass articles pro uced according to my met 0d;

Figure 4 is an elevational view, part1 in section, showing a blankforming mol in position underv a spraying nozzle;

Figure 5 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a blankforming mold, pressing plunger, ring mold and pressed panson;

Figure 6 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a blow moldhaving a parison positioned therein under a spraying nozzle; v

Figure 7 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a blow moldhaving a Figuges 2 and 3 are pers ective views of blown parison therein,and a blow head coactlng with the'mold; and

Figure 8 is a partly'sectional elevational 4 view showing the interiorof the atomizer.

In the drawings, one illustrative'embodiment of my invention is shown inassociation with a glass forming machine of the press and blow typewhich comprises a mold carrying table 1, upon which the arison or b ankmolds 2 and the blow mol 3 "are alternately arranged in' a substantiallycircular path about the center post 4.

Forming machines of the press and blow Y type are usually provided witha reciprocable plunger 5 and ring mold 6 (Figure 5) which are adapted tocooperate with the blank molds 2 to press a blow blank or pari son 7having a bead portion 8, from a previously deposited mass of glass.Suitable quantities of molten glass maybe deposited an automatic feedingmachine or manually.

After the blow blank 7 and its bead ortion 8 have been formed as justdescri ed, the plun r 5 and ring mold. 6 may be elevated an thereciprocable ejector 9 operated to lift the blow blank 7 and bead 8 outof contact with the blank mold 2. Suitable I may be provided with a neckring yoke or sectional cover members 10 and 11 formed with complementaryshoulders 12 and 13 which are adapted to support the blow blank 7 by itsbead portion 8 in the manner shown in Figure 6. After the blow blank 7has been positioned within the blow mold 3, as shown in Figure 6, asuitable fluid pressure blow head 14 may be moved onto the cover members10 and 1,1 and the blank 7 expanded or blown into forming contact withthe mold 3, to form an integral article 15, hood portion 16 and bead 8as shown in Figure 7. Air or other suitable fluid ma be utilized forexpanding or blowing the lank 7, and when the blowing has beencompleted, the blow head 14 may be elevated by means of a fluid pressurecylinder or other suitable 75 in the successively presented blank molds2 in any approved manner, as for instance, by-

means l7;- the cover members 10 and 11 opened by means of operating cams18 and 19; the reciprocable ejector 20 elevated to raise the formedarticle out of contact with the blow mold 3 and the formed article thenremoved from the blow mold. In subsequent operations the formed articleis annealed; the hood portion 16 and bead 8 cracked off along the lineAB;-the top edges given a heat treatment and the article is then readyfor sale.

The structural features of the forming machine and its operation willnot be described in detail because such description is unnecessary to anunderstanding of my invention. It may, however, be mentioned that themold table 1 is given a step-by-step rotary motion by suitable mechanism(not shown) for carrying the press molds 2 and blow molds 3 to thesuccessive stations where the different operations as above describedare performed.

Under some conditions it may be desirable to fire polish the interior ofthe blank 7 before it is blown, and for this purpose I may employ a firehead or burner 21 which is, preferably, vertically reciprocable aboveand in alignment with the blow mold 3 by means of a fluid pressurecylinder or other suitable device 22. In the operation of this burner21, when a blow mold 3, in which a ressed blank 7 has been positioned,is carried under the burner 21, an intense flame issues therefrom andimpinges upon the interior surface of the blank and imparts a brilliantfinish to such surface before the blank'is blown in the mannerpreviously described. It will be understood that the burner 21, or asimilar device, may be employed for fire polishing theinterior of thearticle after blowin and that such interior may be fire polishe bothbefore and after blowing if desired.

In connection with the above described process of manufacturing glassarticles by pressing and ,blowing, my invention contemplates a methodand annaratus for crackling or crazing the exterior or'interior surfacesor both surfaces of the article being produced. In general, my inventionprovides means for covering the exterior surface of a pressed blank witha network of fine lines or cracks which are subsequently enlarged whenthe blank is blown. Means is also provided for crackling or crazing theinterior surface of a pressed blank before blowing .so that both theinterior and exterior surfaces of an article may be crackled ifdesired.It is understood that the particular embodiment of my inventionhereafter described may be varied to accommodate it to different makesof forming machines and diir'erent'types' of ware.

In combination with the forming machine heretofore described, I haveprovided an atomizer 23 which comprises a nozzle 24, an

air inlet 25 controlled by a suitable valve 26 and a water inlet 27controlled by a suitable valve 28. Water and air are supplied to therespective inlets by conduits 29 and 30 and the entire atomizer may besupported above and in alignment with the path of the molds 2 and 3 bymeans of a bracket 31. A collar 32, secured in place upon nozzle 24 bymeans of a set-screw 33, permits vertical adjustment of the nozzle 24with respect to the molds 2 and 3.

The atomizer 23 may be positioned in alignment with one of the placeswhere the blank molds 2 stop before the masses of glass are depositedtherein. By suitably adjusting the air valve 26 and the water valve 28 amist or vapor may be expelled from the end of nozzle 24 as shown inFigure 4. This mist or vapor impinges upon the interior forming surfaceof the successively presented empty blank molds 2 (Figure 4), andresults in chilling or cooling this surface to such an extent that whena mass of glass is deposited in the blank mold and pressed, the exteriorsurface of the resulting .blank 7 will be covered with a network of finelines and cracks 34, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6. These cracks andlines 34 are confined to the surface and do not extend through theblank. The blank 7 may now be transferred to a blow mold 3 in the usualmanner and blown, when the small lines and cracks 34 will be enlargedand widened by the stretching and expansion of the blank 7 duringtheblowing. The appearance of the blown article is shown in Figure 7 and itwill be noted that the cracks 35 are larger and wider than the cracksand lines 34 in the blow blank 7. The articles produced may besubsequently decorated by filling the cracks 35 tomake inlaid glassware.

Since the blow molds 3 travel under the nozzle 24 after the pressedblanks have been positioned therein, it results that the interiorsurface of the pressed blanks are also slightly cracked by the mist orvapor and these cracks are also enlarged during blowing, so that boththe interior and exterior surfaces of the completed article are trackedor crazed. Obviously, this cracking of the interior may be prevented byswinging the nozzle 24 out of alignment when the blow mold travelsthereunder or.

extent to which the exterior surface is crackled may be controlled and.varied to some extent by regulating the quantity of vapor admitted tothe blank mold and the extent to which the interior surface is -crackledmay also be controlled by regulating the quantity of vapor admitted tothe interior of the. blanks 7.

I do not desire to limit my invention to the use of water and airbecause other liquids may be employed and other methods of atomizingliquids are well known and can be emplo ed in lieu of the air jetpreviously descri ed.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that my inventionprovides a novel method of crackling glassware which does not involvethe use of engraved molds or the duplication 'of designs and which isadaptable to mechanical and automatic methods of manufacturingglassware.

Claims:

1. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprisesintroducing the glass in a mold, chilling the glass in the moldsufliciently to roduce a crackled surface, and shapin t e glass, thechillin of the glass to pro uce crackling being e ected by the timeshaping is completed.

2. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprisespressing a charge of glass in a mold cooled suficiently to form acrackled blank, transferring said blank to a blow mold and then blowingsaid blank.

3. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprisesimpinging an atomized fluid upon the forming surface of a mold and thenforming an article in said mold.

4. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprisesdirecting atomized water into a metal mold and then formtill ing anarticle in saidmold.

5. Apparatus a metallic forming surface, means for spraying the formingsurface of said mold with atomized water to roduce a crackled exteriorsurface on: t e blank to be formed therein, means for formin a glassblank in said mold, a blow mold and means for blowing a blank positionedtherein.

means for forming a parison insaid"mold, a blow mold arid means forblowing a parison therein.

7. Apparatus for crackling lassware comprisin a parison mold, means orforming and ischar 'ng moisture impregnated air into said mo (1 to coolits forming surbla . for producing crackled glassware comprising a blankmold having face, means for pressing a parison therein, a blow mold andmeans'for expanding a parison into contact therewith.

8. Apparatus for crackling glassware comprising a metal mold. means forinjecting vapor into said mold to c001 its forming surface, and meansfor forcing molten glass into contact with the forming surface of said.mold to produce an externally crackled article.

9. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprisescooling 0. metal mold surface sufficiently to produce crackling in theblank, and then forming an article in contact with such surface.

10. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprisessimultaneously pressing a blank and cracklin a surface t ereof, andlater shaping suc blank to final form.

11. The method of manufacturing crackled glassware which comprisespressing a blank in a mold and formin a crackled surface thereon, andlater blowing the blank so produced.

12. The method of manufacturin led glassware which comprises crack-'recting charge of glass in such mold, pressing such charge of glass toproduce an externally crackled blank transferring such blank to a blowmold and then blowing said blank.

13. The process of making crackled glassware whic comprises directing act of water impregnated air into a press mo (1 immediately prior to thedepositing of the charge of glass therein depositing a charge of glassin such mold and then pressing such charge of glass. 5

14. The method of manufacturing crackled lassware which comprises movinga mold to successive positions, positively cooling the forming surfaceof such mold in one position, depositing a chargeof glass in such moldm' another position, pressing such charge of glass while such mold 1s m(position to produce an exterill-5 15. In the art of making crackledglass ware by the press and blow method, the steps which comprisesuccessivcly chilling the forming surface of a. blank mold sufli-'ciently to produce crackling charging such mold with molten glass anthen pressing such charge of glass to form an externally crackled blank.

, 16. In the process of. producing crackled glassware by the press andblow method, the step of ressin and chillin a portion of the Masufliciently to pr uce a crackled surface in the finished article.

1 -17. In the process of producing crackled" glassware by the pressandblow method,

the step of pressing and chilling a portion of the blank sufliciently toproduce a crackled surface in the finished article, and then blowing.

18. In. the process of producingcrackled glassware by the press and blowmethod, the step of pressing and subjecting the blank to a chillingsufiicient to ,in the finished article.

produce crackling 19. In ress and blow apperatus,a parison 1o mold, andmeans associated with said mold for subjecting the glass to a chillingsufficierit to produce crackling in the finished artic e.v

In testimony whereof I hereby afiix my signature.

DAVID L. MIDDENDORF. v

